Traumatic life events in childhood and its relation to psychopathology.

- ACRONYM

JES

- hypothesis

1. Is there an association between trauma and psychopathology in children?
2. Is there a (causal) relationship between trauma and expression of psychosis (liability)?
3. Is there evidence of (epi) genetic moderation of this association?
4. What are the mechanisms underlying the association between childhood trauma and psychosis?
5. Do genetic polymorphisms, that previous research suggests may mediate environmental sensitivity, moderate the association between trauma and psychosis?

Siblings:
1. Need to be at least 12 years of age (no upper age limit);
2. At least one sibling needs to participate (if available);
3. More than one sibling is allowed to participate (if available).

Parents of cases:
1. Need to be the biological parent;
2. Participation is preferred, however not needed for cases and their siblings to be included into the study;
3. More than one parent is allowed to participate.

Controls:
Need to be between 12 and 17 years old.

Parents of controls:
1. Need to be the biological parent;
2. Participation is preferred, however not needed for controls to be included into the study;
3. More than one parent is allowed to participate.

- Exclusion criteria

All participants:
When a participant (child and/or parent) does not want to be informed about any possible clinically relevant findings that can be found throughout the study.
Children under treatment:
1. Mental Retardation (IQ score below 70);
2. Insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language;
3. Being diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder according to the DSM-IV with the exception of Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). The reason for this is the difficulties autistic children will have in participating with the assessments;
4. Being adopted.

Siblings:
1. Mental Retardation (IQ score below 70);
2. Insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language;
3. Being diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder according to the DSM-IV with the exception of Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS);
4. Being adopted.

Controls:
1. Mental Retardation (IQ score below 70);
2. Insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language;
3. Being diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder according to the DSM-IV with the exception of Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS);
4. Being adopted;
5. In the presence of a lifetime history of treatment at a mental health care institution.

This is not an intervention study.
The study is about the effects of youth experiences on the development later in life which will be studied using:
1. Interviews;
2. Questionnaires;
3. Experimental tasks;
4. Saliva sample;
5. Experience sampling method.

There is a growing body of evidence linking childhood trauma to psychosis. However, the exact mechanisms driving the association remain to be elucidated. The study will specifically focus on how traumatic events in childhood could result in onset of psychotic symptoms. We also strive to gain more detailed insight into the relation between specific characteristics of the traumatic events and subsequent risk of psychosis.